Graduate's golden touch
20 August 2008
Southampton Solent University alumnus Paul Goodison has been crowned Olympic champion in sailing's Laser Class today (Tuesday August 19).
The former BA (Hons) Maritime Studies student's win takes Great Britain's gold medal tally up to 13 at the Beijing Games. Finishing eight points ahead of nearest rival, Sweden's Rasmus Myrgreen, he clinched Great Britain's third sailing gold of the Games.
Goodison's win will make up for the disappointment of just missing out on an Olympic medal four years ago, when he finished fourth in Athens. Speaking to the BBC in Beijing, he said: "It feels unbelievable. It's going to take a while to sink in."
Southampton Solent University has an enviable reputation in sailing. Yacht Production and Surveying student Katie Miller - Young sailor of the Year 2006 - won the BluQube 1000 solo race this year; the University's yachting team won the British Universities Sailing Association National Championship for the third year in a row; and earlier this month Watersports Studies student Alasdair Boden became the youngest male to circumnavigate Britain single-handed. Meanwhile, Southampton Solent University Honorary Graduate, Ben Ainslie, who accepted an Honorary Doctorate from the University at the opening of the 2007 Southampton boat show, has just scooped a gold medal in the Finns yachting class, making him a triple gold medal holder.
Director of Sport Solent, Phil Green, said: "We're immensely proud of our students' incredible achievements in yachting – and seeing our alumnus, Paul Goodison, win such a well-deserved gold medal at Beijing is just phenomenal. We're also delighted that Ben Ainslie has won a gold medal in the Finns class. I'm sure both Paul and Ben will continue to inspire our up-and-coming talent."
(pic - Richard Langdon / Skandia Team GBR).